Pledge a blessing: Supreme Court hears the case to repeal DOMA

The Supreme Court will hear the case to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act during Passover and Holy Week.Take the pledge to offer a marriage equality blessing for LGBT couples in your home or at your faith service.

This Passover and Lenten season, many of us are looking for ways to bring the spirit of redemption and liberation into our lives and world. Today there is a clear path.

On March 27th, in the midst of this holy time, the Supreme Court will hear the case to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) [1], the law that forbids our federal government from recognizing the loving marriages of people who happen to be of the same gender.

It is up to the Supreme Court to end the long days of DOMA. But it is up to us, as people of faith, to light the way to justice – standing with those calling for liberation and the end to oppression.

There is no question: DOMA is modern day oppression. It echoes the dehumanizing edicts Pharaoh hoisted upon the Israelites. It flouts the very last command Jesus gave his disciples to “love one another; just as I have loved you, you are to love one another” (John 13: 34).

As the first openly gay person to become a bishop in the historic traditions of Christendom, and as the Senior Rabbi at the world’s largest synagogue for LGBT people and their friends and family, we know how powerful it is for people of faith to stand in solidarity to celebrate and honor lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The most important thing we can do to support our brothers and sisters whose love is not yet recognized under the law is to make a pledge to offer blessings during this season of justice and redemptive love.

When you make this pledge, you will be joining the strong and growing United in Marriage coalition. [2] Your “prayerful organizing event” will be shown on a map along with hundreds of others across the country, illustrating the groundswell of people of faith who not only support the love of our brothers and sisters who are not yet equal under the law, but bless it.

If you are a faith leader, we offer suggestions as to how you can incorporate them into your services.

Help this nation step out for love, supporting the freedom to marry for all people. We need you.

Bishop Gene Robinson
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

Bishop Gene Robinson is the retired bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was the first priest in an openly gay relationship to be consecrated a bishop in a major Christian denomination believing in the historic episcopate.

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum is the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beith Simchat Torah, the world’s largest LGBT synagogue. A tireless activist, she was named one of the 50 most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek for six years (2007-2012), as well as one of Newsweek’s 150 Women Who Shake the World.